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On March 27, 2012, North Korea announced that it would not abandon its satellite launch in mid April despite United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama's high profile visit to South Korea this week. Strong reactions have come from South Korea and Japan, the latter having prepared its missile defense system in case the satellite rocket entered Japan's airspace.

As North Korea's closest ally, China's President Hu Jintao has been rather prudent in expressing his position. In the social media, the news has caught a lot of attention among netizens but their viewpoints are divided.

In the news discussion thread at Sina Weibo [zh], quite a number of netizens found North Korea courageous in confronting the U.S. hegemony:

superman哥哥：这本来就是，别的国家凭什么就不让人家发射卫星。就你可以吃肉别人就不可以啦！！！

superman哥哥：Well spoken. How could other countries stop a country from launching a satellite. How can you prevent others from eating meat while you enjoy eating meat!!!

称成：支持朝鲜。有能力有勇气。

称成：support North Korea. It has the ability and courage.

肥鸭KidAtCardiacSurgery：一个独立主权的国家为什么没有发射卫星的权利？!搞笑! 别的国家有什么资格管制

肥鸭KidAtCardiacSurgery：Of course an independent state should have the rights to launch satellites. What a joke! How could other countries intervene into other's internal affairs?

LGX9930：发射卫星不仅是主权国家的合法权利，也是促进经济发展的必要条件，所以不会放弃卫星发射计划。大国可以，小国不行吗？

LGX9930：Launching satellites is not only legitimate rights of an independent country. It is necessary for the nation's economic development. Of course it won't give up. Strong country can launch and small country can't?

长河落日故乡人：各方为何不呼吁美国和朝鲜共同放弃核？

长河落日故乡人：How come no one urges the U.S and the North Korea to become nuke-free?

路殿下：satellites, rockets and nuclear weapons, all need money. If they gave up the development of military technology, Syria and Iran could not maintain their control. The axis powers are a pain in the ass for the U.S.. North Korea knows that they cannot depend on its big brother [China] anymore, and they can only hold onto their control with the development of military force. Such a strategy serves China's short term interest, or else it won't have the guts to confront the U.S.

子虛烏有-先生：奧巴馬在這件事上歇斯抵里，朝鮮不給面，不為五斗米折腰，全世界人看美國出丑，霸權主義去死吧。

子虛烏有-先生：Obama is acting hysterically in this. North Korea won't give up in exchange for food aid, turning the U.S into a clown. Hegemony, please die.

穗海原川：我们58年连稻谷。麦子都放了那么多卫星了，不管是什么样的卫星，是不是卫星，总得给点面子，让人家放放嘛。

穗海原川：Remember we were starving back in 1958, we still launched so many satellites. Let's give [North Korea] some faces and let them launch their satellite or satellite-in-disguise.

At the same time, some argue that the North Korea satellite development will eventually harm China:

Daniel桑：reply to @昊孟中月: please use your brain. Why do we allow police officers to carry guns while not allowing thieves to do the same. Do you know the meaning of North Korea's satellite launch? It will be a headache for China.

热气青年3代：这就好像一把利刃握在一个疯子手中。

热气青年3代：This is like giving a sharp knife to a maniac.

mjintokyo：朝鲜的导弹最远只能飞到美国的阿拉斯加，不过中国全境都在其射程内。那些支持朝鲜的脑残，你们以为中国不用担心么。

mjintokyo：North Korea's rocket can only reach Alaska. But they can reach all corners in China. For those who support North Korea, do you think China has nothing to worry about?

There are also sarcastic comments such as the following:

吉普寨老农：好，朝方一定要坚持到底！届时打一场硬仗，各国争取一个月内消灭独裁政权

吉普寨老农：Great. North Korea should hold on and have a hard battle. Once the war starts, the dictator would be wiped off within a month.